Portugal for Food and Wine Lovers

Duration 9 days
Price guide
From
  PP
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The rolling hills of the Douro valley
Panoramic view of Alfama rooftops in Lisbon, Portugal
Tasting port in Porto
Views over the city of Porto
Get a taste for Portugal on this flavour-driven experience that serves up both the country’s rich culinary and vinicultural heritage as well as its exciting modern food scene. Journeying from the atmospheric streets of Lisbon and Porto to one of the oldest wine-growing regions in Europe, you'll visit historic restaurants, thriving local markets and beautiful stretches of coastline.

Trip highlights

  • Visit local markets and historic cafes in Lisbon
  • Tour vineyards dating back to the 16th century
  • Explore Portugal's prettiest historic monuments
  • Enjoy tastings of port in the city of Porto
  • Delight in sampling wines in the Douro Valley
  • Take part in a traditional cooking workshop

Our bespoke trips include

We design one-of-a-kind journeys incorporating luxury in all its forms. Our bespoke trips include:

  • Luxury accommodation throughout
  • Privately guided tours
  • Private transfers
  • Meticulously selected experiences
  • Expertise and support from your Jacada Concierge
Black and white illustration of two guides pointing to a building in the distance
  • Days 1–4 Lisbon
  • Days 4–7 Douro Valley
  • Days 7–9 Porto
Portugal for Food and Wine Lovers
Price guide
  PP
  • Days 1–4 Lisbon
  • Days 4–7 Douro Valley
  • Days 7–9 Porto

Itinerary in detail

Every Jacada trip is tailored to your personal preferences and interests. Below you’ll find a sample itinerary to inspire your own custom-designed journey.

Days 1–4

A culinary introduction in Lisbon

Your trip begins with three nights in LisbonPortugal’s capital, where you’ll be shown around the city’s atmospheric streets, visiting food markets and cafes with a local guide as you start your immersion in the country’s rich culinary culture – a perfect introduction to Portugal food tours.

Europe’s second oldest capital, Lisbon is an effortlessly elegant city, full of old-world charm. It’s known as much for its lively restaurant scene and superb fine dining as hole-in-the-wall spots to stop, sip a coffee and savour a Portuguese custard tart in the sunshine.

Out of the city, you can visit the famous Pena Palace in Sintra and discover the historic highlights of Coimbra on your way to your next stop in the Douro Valley.

View of the Alfama Lisbon

Lisbon on a plate

Private tour and petiscos tasting

Meet your local host and set off for an authentic experience of life in Lisbon. Strolling through the wonderful old streets, you’ll learn about Portuguese gastronomy and history, dipping into food markets and shops as you go. The day comes to a close with an evening with petiscos and Portuguese wine, a true taste of what it’s like to live in Lisbon, rather than just visit.

Chef-led cooking class and dinner

Learn the secrets to preparing the ultimate Portuguese meal under the guidance of a renowned local chef. During the class, you’ll learn not just how to prepare some of the country’s most traditional dishes with refinement, but delve into the cultural significance of each ingredient you use. The experience concludes with dinner – by which time you’ll feel like you’ve spent your life in a Portuguese kitchen.

Red wine tasting

A wine-tasting masterclass

There’s a world of wine to discover in Portugal: fourteen wine-producing regions, each with numerous grape varieties and distinct local styles. Dive into the secrets of the finest vintages during an in-depth pairing and tasting masterclass in the atmospheric setting of one of the city’s best wine bars. You’ll be guided by an award-winning viticulturist, part of a winemaking family whose heritage dates back over a century.

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Sintra

Coimbra

Fairytale palaces

Hundreds of years of history and culture await in Sintra. Visit the 19th-century Pena Palace, its architecture an incredible combination of styles, colours and shapes. The surrounding park, both forest and elegant gardens, are charming to wander. You can uncover more Sintra’s history visiting the Castelo dos
Mouros and Monserrate Palace with a local guide.

Ancient history

Leaving Lisbon on your way to the Douro Valley, discover a different era of Portugal’s fascinating past with a stop in Coimbra. This small city was the capital of the Kingdom of Portugal in the Middle Ages. Today, historical landmarks abound. Led by an expert guide, tour the university, the historic quarter and the Romanesque Old Cathedral before a leisurely lunch.

Days 4–7

Dive into the wines of the Douro Valley

The Douro River winds its way from the north of Spain, along the Portuguese border and eastward to Porto where it meets the sea. Roughly midway on its course across Portugal, a stretch of its waters is flanked by a dramatic valley covered in bright green rows of grape vines. This is the Douro Valley’s Alto Douro, an area synonymous with wine tasting in Portugal, where wine has been produced for some 2000 years, the first wine-growing region in the world to be formally demarcated in 1756 and a UNESCO World Heritage-protected landscape.

You’ll enjoy a three-night stay here at the fabulous Six Senses. Winery touring and tasting is the main order of the day, with an array of stunning adega as well as traditional and boutique growers to discover. The region’s sprinkling of historic towns and rustic villages are also wonderful to wander around, while the rugged mountains to the east are home to the Côa Valley’s prehistoric rock art and some great hikes. Other popular activities in the area include challenging mountain biking, laid-back river cruises and bird watching.

Scenic view of Alto Douro in Portugal

Explore the valley

Hiking

Tasting

Dining

Exploring the Alto Douro

There’s no better way to appreciate the Alto Douro wine region than on a hike. Follow the river on an incredibly scenic and medium-difficulty trail, flanked by vineyards and beautiful views. Your break for a picnic lunch with your hiking guide allows you to truly soak up the atmosphere of a wine region with viticultural heritage stretching back to the Romans.

Visit Quinta do Crasto

You’ll gain a deeper appreciation for Douro Valley vintages at Quinta do Crasto, where a personalised and private guided tour awaits. This family-owned winery produces port and olive oil as well as superb wines, which you’ll taste alongside local cheeses and cured meats looking out over the vineyards. The oldest parts of the cellars and house date back to the 17th century.

Lunch at Casa de Sezim

At Casa de Sezim, a winery set in a 14th-century manor house, Vinho Verde is the star of the show. This delicate and lightly effervescent “green” wine is as famous within Portugal as the Douro’s rich and robust reds. Learn about winemaking methods and the property’s history on a guided tour, then and sample the estate’s best bottles over a lavish three-course meal.

Days 7–9

Fabulous dining in Porto

Your trip concludes with two nights in the beautiful city of Porto. Portugal’s second city is one of Europe’s most charming. Built on a steep riverbank, its colourful medieval houses ascend from the calm waters of the Douro River where wooden boats bob on the surface.

You’ll have ample time to explore and sample some of the city’s superb restaurants, pairing fabulous views with delectable pesticos – the Portuguese cousin of Spanish tapas. A tour with a resident foodie and visits to the city’s famous port wineries complete your gourmet immersion.

 

A traditional tiled church in central Porto

Porto in a glass

Taste the finest ports

Led by an expert guide, unravel the stories of Porto’s fabulous food and wine culture. You’ll discover the essence of the city as you conclude by delving into the history of port with an exclusive tasting of vintage bottles at Graham’s Winery.

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Personalised design

We’ll plan your trip around your personal interests, tastes and preferences, providing honest advice based on first-hand knowledge.

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Authentic experiences

Our expert guides and brilliant Concierges are hand-picked for their ability to bring your destination to life with care and passion.

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Positive Impact

We seek out unforgettable experiences that benefit both local communities and the environment.

Ariel view of waves breaking on a forested shoreline